Automatic gravity return bump gates



Aug. 16, 1965 w, KOCH AUTOMATIC GRAVITY RETURN BUMP GATES Filed June 13, 1962 INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. KOCH BY ATTOEA/EV United States Patent 3,399,237 AUllGMATlfC SRAVETY ELTURN BUM? GATES William H, Koch, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Crowiey Fence Co. End, ltiinneapolis, a corporation of ltiinnesota Filed June 13, 1962-, er. No. 2li2,l7 2 (Ilaims. (Cl. 59-61) This invention relates broadly to fence gates and more particularly, to bump gates actuated by the bumping thereagainst of a vehicle to unlatch and open the same and the automatic closing and latching thereof as the said gate returns to a closed position by the force of gravity.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved bump gate of the class described that is positive in its opening and closing movements and that is rugged in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and simple to install.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bump gate of the class described that is suspended in such a manner that the s eed of its closing movements can be regulated by a single and inexpensive adjustment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bump gate of the class described having a novel latch mechanism to automatically unlatch the same and similarly hold said latch mechanism in locked position when the gate automatically returned to normal closed position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an automatic bump gate of the class described which is easily actuated manually by hand to admit pedestrian traflic,

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and claims when taken in conjuection with the appended drawing which forms a part of this application and in which drawing, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the following devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the instant invention mounted in a fence line.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the same, the unlocked position of certain parts being shown by means of broken lines, taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1 of the invention illustrating the latch actuating mechanism, some parts being broken away and sectioned.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 of the latch mechanism, and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

The numeral 6 is directed to a fence line and the numerals 7 and 5 indicate a pair of preferably tubular metal gate posts of said fence line 6 to define the opening therein for the gate as the same would appear in a normal installation. These gate posts 7 and 8 are set rigidly in the ground in the fence line and are spaced apart as dictated by the width of the gate 9 to be mounted therebetween. For the purpose of this application, the gate post 7 will hereinafter be referred to as a hinge post; and the gate post 3 as the latch post. For purposes that will presently appear, it is important to note that the hinge post '7 is substantially higher than the latch post 8.

The gate 9 as an entirety is in the form of a frame of preferably tubular construction comprising left and right hand vertically disposed end members it) and 13 respectively, and upper and lower horizontal gate frame members 12 and 13. Intermediate, horizontally disposed members 15 are Welded at their respective end portions to the end members it and M of the said gate frame 9 and short intermediately disposed vertical members 15' connect the upper member l2 and the lower gate frame member 13 to the horizontally disposed intermediate member 35 immediately therebelow and/or there-above, substantially at the longitudinal center of said horizontal member.

A pair of collar hinges 16 are rigidly secured, as shown, to the vertical end member ll? of the gate frame 9 and are constructed to encircle the hinge post 7 to afford free swinging movement of the gate frame 9 about this axis and also to permit slight vertical movements of the said gate frame on the hinge post 7.

The hinge post 7 extends upwardly above the horizontal plane of the upper member 12 of the gate frame 9 and the extreme upper end portion thereof affords a permanent mounting station for one end of a flexible link it! that affords the sole support of the gate frame 9 on the hinge post 7 and which is anchored at its other end portion to a longitudinally adjustable clamp 18 mounted on the upper member 12 of the gate frame 9.

It will be obvious to anyone skilled in the installation of this gate that the speed of return to normal closed position can be regulated by the longitudinal adjustment of the clamp it; on the said upper member 12 of the gate frame and that the rise of the gate frame 9 actuated by the flexible link 17 as the gate is swung open about its pivotal axis will cause the gate frame 9 to return to normal closed position as the weight mass of the said gate frame seeks its lowest level.

Intermediate of the end members ltl and 1 of the gate frame 9, substantially at the longitudinal center of said gate frame, are a pair of transversely spaced bump bars 19 one of each of said bump bars extending upwardly on either side of the gate frame 9 for engagement with the bumper of a vehicle, not shown, approaching the gate from either side thereof. Engagement of the bump bars 19 and the vehicle will cause the latch mechanism to be released and permit the gate frame to be swung or bumped open from either side as will presently be more specifically described in detail. The upstanding bump bars I? are actually a part of a unitary structure that is substantially U-sha-ped, the base 20 of which, affords a mounting station for a fixed clamp 21 by which means the bump bar assembly is pivotally mounted for reciprocal rocking movements substantially at the longitudinal center of the lower gate frame member 13. A transverse spacer and guide member 2 2 extends between the upstanding burnp bars 19 to impart rigidity and strength to the bump bar assembly. This spacer and guide bar 22 is positioned adjacent the upper end portion of the respective bump bars 19 and extends in a horizontal plane that lies just beneath the lower edge portion of the upper horizontal gate frame member 15. A pair of transversely spaced depending ears 1d affording a guide bracket 23 is rigidly secured on the underside of said upper intermediate gate frame member 15 in alignment with the said transverse guide and spacer member 22, said depending ears E4 of the guide bracket 23 affording a channel through which the transverse spacer 22 passes to guide the said transverse rocking movements of the bump bar assembly.

A cattle guard 24 in the form of a substantially circular yoke is secured to the short intermediate vertically disposed gate frame members 15 and is provided to prevent the inadvertent opening of the gate by the bumping of cattle thcreagainst. This cattle guard 24 is constructed and arranged to completely surround the upstanding bump bars 19, and while not so illustrated on the drawing, this yoke-like cattle guard 24 may be mounted adjustably on the short vertical frame members 15' at any desired position within the limits of said short vertical members.

A latch actuating mechanism, cooperating with a latch 25 mounted on the latch post 8' comp-rises a relatively long latch bar 26 having a clevis 27 secured to its inner end portion, a clevis pin 28 having a roller member 28 mounted thereon for movement about the vertical axis of said clevis pin and a coiled spring 29 surrounding the latchlbar 26 and secured thereto at the outer end portion and abutting the outer short vertical gate frame member as a base of resistance to normally return the latch bar 26 to engagement with the latch 2d. As best illustrated in FIG. 3 a triangular shaped yoke 30, its apex 31 pointed outwardly toward the latch on'the latch post 26 is rigidly secured at its base 32 to the respective upstanding bump bars 19 at a point that is in a horizontally aligned plane with the clevis 27. To assemble the triangular yoke 39 in worlcing'en-gagement with the latch bar 26, the clevis pin 28 and its mounted roller 28 are withdrawn from the clevis 27 and the said clevis thence being moved into connected engagement with the yoke at the apex 31 thereof, the said clevis pin 28 and the roller 28' respectively are then replaced in the olevis 27. It will be obvious from'the foregoing that the coiled spring 29 will hold the entire latch bar actuating assembly in locked position and to unlock the gate it is only necessary to transversely bump either of the up standing bump bars 19. By exerting this force against the said bump bars, a caming action is imparted by the force of the engagement of either the legs 33 of the triangular yoke 39 and the roller 28' on the latch bar 28; This caming action will obviously withdraw the latch bar 26 from engagement with the latch 25 and thus permit the gate to simultaneously be swung open to admit the passage therethrough of a vehicle or a pedestrian.

The latch 25 as an entirety com-prises a flat mounting plate 34, rigidly secured to the latch post 8 by means of bolts 35, said mounting plate having a guide ramp on an upward-1y inclined radius the uppermost portion of which is located in the exact transverse mounting plate 34. A leaf spring having a pair of opposed downwardly and inwardly projected spring fingers 37 is rigidly mounted on the mounting plate 34, said spring fingers being slightly upturned .at their respective outer end portions for a purpose that will presently appear. These spring fingers 37 are so mounted as to terminate in a tensioned engagement with the upper surfaces of the ramp 36 and the end portions 38 thereof, are spaced transversely apart substantially the width of the end portion 26' of the latch bar 25 which is normally held in locked position bet-ween said end portions 38 of the spring fingers 37. Obviously with the gate in closed position the end portions 26 of the latch bar 26 is resting on the ramp 36 thereby preventing any sagging of the gate frame 9 due to the weight of the otherwise unsupported free end portion thereof.

It will be understood that the gate frame'9 cannot'be swung in either direction until the projecting end portion 26' of the latch bar 26 is withdrawn from its normal locked position between the end portions 38 of the spring fingers. By the same expedient, the open gate frame 9 may be automatically swung back into closed and locked position from either side as the said end portion 26 of the latch bar 26 engages the ramp and c-verides the depending spring fingers 37 in engagement with the ramp 36 and comes to rest between the said end portions 38' of said spring fingers 37 wherein the upturned end portions of the said spring fingers afford a pair of stops to engage the end portion 2a of the latch bar 26 regardless of which side of the ramp 36 the latch bar traverse-s for engagement with said spring fingers.

, While there are herein disclosed but a' limited number of embodiments of the structure, process and product of the invention herein presented, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed,'and it is desired, there- I for, that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as are stated herein or required by the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic gravity return bump gate comprising in combination, a gate frame'mounted between a pair of spaced gate posts defining an opening in a fence line, one of said gate posts affording a station for pivotally mounting the gate frame for swinging movements, selectively, to either side of the fence line and also for limited movement relative to the hinge post, the other of said gate posts af ording a mounting station for a latch mechanism, a latch bar slidably mounted on the gate frame for endwise sliding engagement with the latch mechanism mounted on the latch post whereby said gate frame is normally held in closed locked position, a substantially U-shaped bump bar pivotally mounted at its base on the gate frame for lateral rocking movements, said bump bar having a pair of substantially parallel upwardly projecting arms, one on each side of the gate frame for engagement with the bumper of a vehicle, an upper and tion of the hinge post substantially above the top of the gate frame and the other end portion of said flexible link being adjustably secured to the gate frame whereby said gate frame is supported for free swinging movement, a substantially V-shaped yoke, the end portions of which are rigidly secured to the upwardly projecting arms of the bump bar in transversely opposed relation, a olevis having a clevis pin, a relatively wide roller journalled on said clevis pin for movement about the vertical axis of said clevis pin, said clevis being secured to the inner end portion of the latch bar, said clevis having interlocking engagement with the V-shaped yoke on the upwardly projecting arms of the bump bar, said yoke imparting a cammin-g action by its engagement with the roller on the clevis pin to draw the latch bar inwardly when pressure is exerted on either of said upwardly projecting arms of the bump bar thereby withdrawing the outer end portion of the latch bar from engagement with the latch mechanism, a semi-circular rod-like cattle guard bow mounted on an intermediate vertically disposed portion of the gate'frame surrounding the upwardly projecting arms of the bump bar to prevent the inadvertent opening of the latch mechanism by the movement of cattle against reframe mounted between a pair of spaced gate posts defining an opening in a fence line, one of said posts pivotally supporting said gate frame at its one end, the other of said posts having latch means to latch said gate frame at its other end, said gate frame having latch structure cooperating with said latch means on said post to latch the gate frame to the post, said gate frame latch structure comprising a rectangular bracket acting as a bump bar, said bracket having'a pair of legs extending upward and parallel with one another and an upper and lower lateral end portion, a cattle guard mounted on an intermediate, vertically, disposed gate frame adjacent said legs to prevent operation of the latch mechanism by cattle, said bracket being pivotally mounted at its lower end to said gate frame and slidably guided by tongue and groove structure at its upper end and adapted to pivot laterally between the ends of said gateframe, a V-shaped yoke secured to said arms of said bracket, an elongated latch bar slidably mounted to said gate frame and having upright pin means engaging said yoke whereby the lateral movement of said bracket means causes said V-shaped yoke to engagesaid pin of said elongated latch bar and impart endwise longitudinal movement of the latch bar, said latch meansrin said other post comprising ramp structure and finger members in said ram-p which are spring mounted for receiving and retaining said latch bar, said bracket being pivotally mcvable to withdraw said latch bar from said spring fingers .to allow said gate frame to be swung open.

References (Titer! by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,264,244 4/ 18 Woiwod 292-44 1,510,993 10/24 Houser 29244 Koch et a1 3931 X Thr-uber 292-202 Koch 39-55 Batchier 3931 X Piper 39--55 HARRZSON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

CARL W. ROBINSON, Examiner. 

1. AN AUTOMATIC GRAVITY RETURN BUMP GATE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A GATE FRAME MOUNTED BETWEEN A PAIR OF SPACED GATE POSTS DEFINING AN OPENING IN A FENCE LINE, ONE OF SAID GATE POSTS AFFORDING A STATION FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE GATE FRAME FOR SWINGING MOVEMENTS, SELECTIVELY, TO EITHER SIDE OF THE FENCE LINE AND ALSO FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE HINGE POST, THE OTHER OF SAID GATE POSTS AFFORDING A MOUNTING STATION FOR A LATCH MECHANISM, A LATCH BAR SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE GATE FRAME FOR ENDWISE SLIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LATCH MECHANISM MOUNTED ON THE LATCH POST WHEREBY SAID GATE FRAME IS NORMALLY HELD IN CLOSED LOCKED POSITION, A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED BUMP BAR PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ITS BASE ON THE GATE FRAME FOR LATERAL ROCKING MOVEMENTS, SAID BUMP BAR HAVING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL UPWARDLY PROJECTING ARMS, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE GATE FRAME FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BUMPER OF A VEHICLE, AN UPPER AND LOWER PAIR OF COLLAR HINGES RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE GATE FRAME AND CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO ENCIRCLE THE HINGE POST WITH A FREE WORKING FIT FOR LIMITED VERTICAL MOVEMENTS, AND A FLEXIBLE LINK MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END PORTION OF THE HINGE POST SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE THE TOP OF THE GATE FRAME AND THE OTHER END PORTION OF SAID FLEXIBLE LINK BEING ADJUSTABLY SECURED TO THE GATE FRAME WHEREBY SAID GATE FRAME IS SUPPORTED FOR FREE SWINGING MOVEMENT, A SUBSTANTIALLY V-SHAPED YOKE, THE END PORTIONS OF WHICH ARE RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE UPWARDLY PROJECTING ARMS OF THE BUMP BAR IN TRANSVERSELY OPPOSED RELATION, A CLEVIS HAVING A CLEVIS PIN, A RELATIVELY WIDE ROLLER JOURNALLED ON SAID CLEVIS PIN FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT THE VERTICAL AXIS OF SAID CLEVIS PIN, SAID CLEVIS BEING SECURED TO THE INNER END PORTION OF THE LATCH BAR, SAID CLEVIS HAVING INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE V-SHAPED YOKE ON THE UPWARDLY PROJECTING ARMS OF THE BUMP BAR, SAID YOKE IMPARTING A CAMMING ACTION BY ITS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ROLLER ON THE CLEVIS PIN TO DRAW THE LATCH BAR INWARDLY WHEN PRESSURE IS EXERTED ON EITHER OF SAID UPWARDLY PROJECTING ARMS OF THE BUMP BAR THEREBY WITHDRAWING THE OUTER END PORTION OF THE LATCH BAR FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LATCH MECHANISM, A SEMI-CIRCULAR ROD-LIKE CATTLE GUARD BOW MOUNTED ON AN INTERMEDIATE VERTICALLY DISPOSED PORTION OF THE GATE FRAME SURROUNDING THE UPWARDLY PROJECTING ARMS OF THE BUMP BAR TO PREVENT THE INADVERTENT OPENING OF THE LATCH MECHANISM BY THE MOVEMENT OF CATTLE AGAINST RESPECTIVE BUMP BARS. 